Process of treating hats and the like



FIFESO? IR le685e199 ION 0F TEXTILES & FIBERS,

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNIT STAES RAYMOND H. OAKES, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YOBKJAS'SIQNOR TO B. H. COMEY BROOKLYN COMPANY, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW

PATENT OFFICE.

Y ORKT'A-QQEPORATION OF NEW YORK.

rnocnss or TREATI "e HA'I S AND THE LIKE.

No Drawing.

As the hats are received from South America the spots are not always apparent to the unexperienced, due largely to coatings or the like which are apparently applied to the hats. However, during the operation of bleaching the Cuencas or other hats containing the black spots the spots do not bleach out, with the result that they become more apparent as the hats are bleached and become whiter. Considerable study has been given to the problem of removing these spots but so far as I am aware satisfactory results have not been obtained.

My invention aims to provide a process by which this difficulty can be overcome and the spots effectively removed. While my process has been devised particularly for the treatment of the hats known as Guencas, it may, of course, be applied to the treatment of other hats, cloth or articles of fibrous materials for removing black spots therefrom.

In general my process consists in subjecting the hats or other materials to a lime bath. To prepare the bath I preferably use in proportion about one pound of unslaked lime to about five gallons of water. These are thoroughly stirred and churned together and the solution allowed to stand for about twelve hours. After the solution settles the supernatant liquid is withdrawn and used for the bath. This liquid, of course, contains calcium hydroxide in solution and is therefore alkaline. Other alkalis may be used to form the bath but in general the lime bath will be found preferable.

The hats or other materials containing the black spots are immersed in the bath formed as above described and are allowed to soak until the spots are removed. Usually, soaking the materials for a period of about twenty-four hours will be sufficient. In some cases, however, an additional treatment or treatments may be found necessary where the black spots do not yield to a single treatment.

The hats may be put in the bath in any Application filed January 20, 1927. Serial No. 162,412.

desired manner but should not be" packed tlghtly together so as to prevent free access of the solution to all parts of the material. Circulation of the bath may be employed if desired, but generally this is unnecessary.

After being subjected to the lime bath as above described, the hats or other materials are removed therefrom and freed from all traces of the lime solution. This may be done by washing with water alone, but preferably water made slightly acid is employed. A solution of about one quarter of a pound of oxalic acid to one hundredgallons of water will generally be found satisfactory. Of course, other acids or acid solutions can be employed in the washing water. In some cases soaking the material to neutralize the lime may be found sufiicient without washing.

As is well known, Panama and other hats made of vegetable fiber are generally bleached by the use of hydrogen peroxide. This bleaching process is well known and need not be described in detail but generally consists in immersing the hats or other materials to be bleached in a bath containing hydrogen peroxide until the desired bleaching action has taken place. In carrying out my present invention, I preferably subject the hats or other materials from which the spots are to be removed to the lime bath above described either after they have been partially bleached or after they have been fully bleached. The partially or completely bleached hats are preferably washed free of bleaching solution and dried and then subjected to the above described lime bath to remove the spots. Where the hats are subjected to the lime bath after partial bleaching, the bleaching is later carried to completion.

I have found that my process not only serves to remove the black spots but has an incidental advantage in that it results in a somewhat brighter and clearer product in the finished hat.

In some cases it may be found that the material of the hats will be more or less dark or defective throughout instead of merely at certain spots and Where such condition exists my process will also serve to remove such defects or discolorations and give a clearer and brighter product.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A process for removing spots or discolorations from Panama hats and the like which comprises subjecting them to a bath containing calcium hydroxide and then treating the same to remove the alkali.

2. A process for removing spots or discolorations from Panama hats and the like Which comprises subjecting them to a bath containing calcium hydroxide'and then Washing them With Water containing acid to re.- move the alkali.

3. A process for removing spot or discolorations from Panama hats and the like which comprises immersing them in a bath formed by mixing unslaked lime and Water, removing them from the bath and Washing them free of the alkali.

4. A process for treating hats and the like which comprises subjecting them to a bleaching solution, and then subjecting them to a bath formed by mixing unslaked lime and Water.

5. A process for treating hats and the like Which comprises subjecting them to a bleaching solution, drying the same and then subj ecting them to a bath containing calcium hydroxide.

6. A process for treating hats and the like Which comprises bleaching the same subjecting them to a bath containing calcium hydroxide, then further bleaching the same.

7. A process for removing spots or discolorations from Panama hats and the like Which comprises subjecting the bleached hats to a bath containing an alkali.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

RAYMOND H. CAKES. 

